What Is Parkinson’s Disease?

Who hasn’t tapped fingers on a desk with anxiety or shook a leg under a table awaiting some sort of news? These motor impulses may seem involuntary, but they largely are under the control of the individual. For a portion of the population, fidgeting and tremors are out of their control, and are hallmarks of a movement disorder called Parkinson’s disease.

The Parkinson’s Foundation says Parkinson’s disease (PD) affects 10 million people worldwide. PD is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that predominantly affects the dopamine- producing neurons in an area of the brain called the substantial nigra.